‘Every Life Lost Is Part of Me’ – Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu Makes Emotional Plea as Japan and UNDP Backs Renewed Bawku Peace Drive

By – Sadat Dabo

Member of the Governing Board of the National Peace Council, Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu, delivered an emotional appeal for lasting peace in Bawku, declaring that every life lost in the conflict is a personal loss as the Council renewed efforts to restore stability in the area

Speaking at a two-day peacebuilding dialogue involving security personnel and media practitioners, Sheikh Shaibu said the National Peace Council had intensified engagements with key stakeholders following recent visits to Bawku and Nalerigu, where there was a unanimous call for the Council to immediately resume peacebuilding initiatives

He explained that the workshop follows an August dialogue held in Tamale with Mamprusi and Kusasi opinion leaders and is intended to address critical security and media concerns that are essential to achieving sustainable peace in Bawku and the wider Upper East and North East regions

In one of the most emotional moments of his address, Sheikh Shaibu reflected on his personal connection to northern Ghana “I belong to the north. Any member of the north who is killed, I see one part of me killed,” he said

Sheikh Shaibu reaffirmed that the National Peace Council, established under Act 818, remains an independent institution mandated to prevent, manage and resolve conflicts to ensure sustainable peace across Ghana

Addressing security agencies, he urged them to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve cooperation and uphold professionalism while effectively managing the volatile security situation in Bawku

He also challenged journalists to rise above sensationalism and embrace responsible reporting that promotes reconciliation, “Our duty is to ensure that we do not ignite conflict. Journalists should look beyond themselves and their profession and see their responsibility as members of the human community, promoting peace through balanced, ethical and professional reporting devoid of sensationalism, incitement and bias,” he said

According to him, the dialogue is expected to deliver three major outcomes : improving security intelligence and cooperation, enhancing the capacity of media practitioners to report responsibly on the conflict, and restoring social cohesion through practical mechanisms for sustainable peace

Sheikh Shaibu acknowledged the support of the Government and people of Japan as well as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for investing resources into peacebuilding efforts in Bawku, “From far away Japan, resources have been committed to support peace here. Let us reach a point where we can also support others by maintaining peace ourselves,” he remarked

Japan Reaffirms Commitment

Representing the Japanese Ambassador, an official from the Embassy of Japan reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s peace efforts in Bawku

He disclosed that Japan’s involvement began after receiving a request from the Office of the President, leading to discussions with the UNDP and the National Peace Council on how best to support the peace process

He described the initiative as significant not only for Ghana but also for Japan, expressing hope that the dialogue would contribute meaningfully to ending the conflict and pave the way for development projects in Bawku

The two-day workshop from 7 – 8 September 2026, brings together security agencies, media practitioners and peacebuilding stakeholders to develop practical strategies aimed at restoring peace, strengthening social cohesion and ensuring lasting stability in Bawku

Source – gbcuraonline.com.